UNCSA's The Nutcracker returns to Reynolds Auditorium in Winston-Salem for five shows Dec. 3-6, 2026, with a live orchestra. Times and tickets from $39.
Last checked Oct. 24, 2026. Dates, times and prices come from UNC School of the Arts. Box office: 336-721-1945. This page is updated for each year’s production at the same address.
UNC School of the Arts stages “The Nutcracker” five times Dec. 3-6, 2026, at R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road. Tickets start at $39 before taxes and fees, and the score is played live by the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra, according to UNCSA.
Know before you go
- Dates: Thursday, Dec. 3, to Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026
- Where: R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road, by Hanes Park
- Tickets: from $39 plus taxes and fees, online or at 336-721-1945
- Box office: temporarily at Watson Hall, 1533 S. Main St., on the UNCSA campus
Performance times
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Dec. 3 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 4 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | 1 p.m. |
Is it on this year?
Yes. UNCSA announced the 2026 dates in its 2026-27 season release on July 21, and said the production “returns to Winston-Salem and its original home at Reynolds High School Auditorium” for five performances. Daytime performances for area school groups also return there.
Who is in it
Students from UNCSA’s schools of Dance, Music, and Design and Production make the show. Choreography is by Dance faculty member Ilya Kozadayev, and Karin Hendrickson conducts the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra, according to UNCSA.
Tickets
- Buy through the “Buy Tickets” link on UNCSA’s Nutcracker page or call the box office at 336-721-1945.
- Prices start at $39; taxes and fees are extra.
- The box office is temporarily at Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main St., while the Stevens Center is closed, according to UNCSA.
Parking and getting there
R.J. Reynolds Auditorium is on the R.J. Reynolds High School campus at 301 N. Hawthorne Road, west of downtown beside Hanes Park. UNCSA’s event page does not list parking details for the auditorium; check with the box office before you go. UNCSA says parking for patrons with special needs is available at all of its performance venues. For other options, see our getting around guide and, for any street work nearby, road construction and closures.
More holiday plans
- The Winston-Salem Symphony’s Cirque de la Symphonie, with acrobats and jugglers, plays Reynolds Auditorium Nov. 28-29; see arts and exhibitions this month.
- Lights, Old Salem’s Christmas and Santa visits: holiday lights and Christmas events.
- The downtown parade and tree lighting: Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Frequently asked questions
When is The Nutcracker in Winston-Salem in 2026?
UNC School of the Arts performs it five times Dec. 3-6, 2026: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday, according to UNCSA.
Where is UNCSA’s Nutcracker this year?
At R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road, next to Hanes Park. UNCSA says the production returns to its original home there.
How much are Nutcracker tickets?
Tickets start at $39, before taxes and fees, according to UNCSA. Buy them online or from the UNCSA box office at 336-721-1945.
Is the music live?
Yes. The UNCSA Symphony Orchestra plays the score live under conductor Karin Hendrickson, according to the school.
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